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Overview:
Sharing your life
with a cat is a rewarding & enriching experience. Cats have so
much to offer including love & companionship. But we must face
the fact that along with this comes the responsibility of caring
for their physical & emotional wellbeing. Cats will get sick
from time to time, but there are ways to reduce the chances of
this happening. Below are some suggestions.
Vet Check Ups:
Regular vet
checkups are a must. Even if your cat appears to be fit & well,
it is still important to have your cat thoroughly checked over
with his veterinarian once a year. Often problems can be picked
up early & effective action taken, this is far better than
waiting until a disease has progressed & more damage has been
caused.
Not only will your
veterinarian give your cat a thorough check up but he will also
be able to advise you on cat care. As your cat ages, it's
requirements will change. So it is always handy to speak to your
veterinarian about the different needs of your cat throughout
his life.
Food:
There are many
different options in regards to what cat owners can feed their
cat including: commercial diet from the supermarket, premium
diet from pet stores/veterinarians, home prepared raw &
commercially prepared raw. Whichever diet suits you & your cat
is a personal choice. It is always best to speak to your
veterinarian before changing your cat's diet. This is especially
important in cats who have an ongoing medical condition.
Cats are obligate
carnivores & have very specific dietary requirements. Therefore
it is vital that their nutritional needs be met with an adequate
diet especially designed for cats. Never feed your cat a diet
for dogs & if you do choose to feed a raw/home made diet for
your cat, speak to your veterinarian to make sure it has all the
necessary vitamins & minerals your cat requires.
Bear in mind that
cats have different requirements according to age & health
status too. A kitten has different needs to a senior cat for
example.
Indoor:
In the ideal world
cats could safely roam around outdoors, relax in the sun, watch
the wildlife & get some exercise, unfortunately there are many
risks which come with the great outdoors. Cars, dogs, cruel
humans, infectious disease are just some dangers which face
outdoor cats. There is a compromise which many cat owners are
embracing & that is to provide your cat with an outdoor cat
enclosure. This permits your cat to enjoy the outdoors but keeps
it safe.
For ideas &
examples of cat enclosures, please visit
this page...
Cat Proof:
Even keeping your
cat indoors comes with some dangers, but these are able to be
addressed by the diligent pet owner. There are many plants which
are toxic to cats, even if just a minute amount is ingested, so
it is always good to familiarise yourself with plants which are
dangerous to cats. For a list of plants toxic to cats, please
read our article
Plants Toxic to Cats.
Other common
dangers include: poisons, hot stoves, toilets, washing machines
& tumble dryers, string/ribbon etc., electrical cords & more.
Vaccinations:
Ensuring your cat
is vaccinated will help reduce it's chances of picking up
several infectious diseases. Your veterinarian can advise you on
a vaccination schedule for your cat.
Parasitic
Control:
Parasites can have
a serious impact on your cat's health so it is important to
ensure your cat remains parasite free. There are many parasites
which can infect your cat including worms (several species,
fleas, ticks & mites). Not only do they cause ill health, but
they also cause great discomfort to your cat. Some parasites
also have health implications for humans too.
There are many
great products to combat parasites these days, including topical
ones which are easier to apply than powders & sprays. Before you
treat your cat for parasites, speak to your veterinarian as he
will be able to advise you on the best product to use on your
cat.
Children:
Children & pets
can be a great mix under the right conditions. It is important
to ensure both your cat & your child be protected. Ensure that
your child learns about respect towards animals, teach her how
to properly handle a cat.
Stress Free:
It has been long
known that stress impacts on the immune system & can have a
detrimental effect on your cat's health. There are many causes
of stress in cats some of which are; overcrowding, boredom,
loneliness, changes within the household such as moving house,
the addition of a new pet or family member, the death of a
companion (human or animal) etc. If the stress is long term this
can begin to impact on your cat's immune system & make it
vulnerable health problems.
It is important to
be aware that cats can become stressed & make moves to comat
this.
Being
observant:
The prudent cat
owner should be aware of their cat's usual behaviour & outward
physical appearance. This includes being aware if your cat
starts eating or drinking more or less, sleeping more or less,
coat condition, eyes, & general wellbeing. For more signs of
sickness in cats,
read here...
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